Mayflower II headed back to Plymouth, Massachusetts

Published
5:45 am EDT, Wednesday, May 20, 2015

MYSTIC (AP) -- A replica of the Mayflower is back at sea, headed home for the busy summer tourist season.

The ship has been undergoing renovations at Mystic Seaport in Connecticut since December, part of a multiyear plan. Officials hope to have the ship repaired by 2020 -- the 400th anniversary of the original Mayflower crossing of the Atlantic.

The ship left Mystic on Tuesday and is scheduled to arrive at Plimoth Plantation Wednesday afternoon. It is scheduled to return to Connecticut over the next two winters.

The Mayflower II first launched in 1957 and has been maintained regularly.

This winter, the ship was repainted and 130 tons of stone and rusting iron ballast was removed and replaced. Workers also replaced bilge and fire pumps and 300 feet of planking.